Workshop set for input on $400,000 downtown Ripon beautification effort

RIPON – Leo Zuber welcomed the beautification improvements proposal for a portion of Main Street.

The newly-elected Ripon Councilman recalled prior plans of a few years ago were hindered when “things were blown out of proportion.”

This time, Zuber is hoping for a better outcome.

“We will need to get in touch with the downtown businesses (or shareholders) and let them know exactly what’s going on,” he said at the council meeting on Tuesday.

Zuber and his colleagues approved a plan for staff to conduct a public workshop with the shareholders, thus, allowing them to review the proposed project elements. They’ll also be allowed to provide comments or suggestions prior to the final design.

Staff, following the workshop, could then look to begin the process of accepting construction bids.

Kevin Werner, who is the city engineer, indicated that funding for this project will come from the state Department of Transportation’s enhancement grant. “According to our estimations, ($400,000) should be enough to do the project,” he said.

The work that’s being considered on the Main Street right-of-way between Acacia Avenue and Nourse Street could include replacing the existing wood trellises with brick and metal similar to that of previous stage of Main Street; replacing plants at various planters where needed; retrofitting existing planters and pots that may have shifted; and making landscape improvements at the planters at the entrance of the Main Street parking lot adjacent to the Ripon Roadhouse Restaurant.

Plans also call for no road work on the project, enabling nearby businesses to continue operating with minimal interruptions, Werner said in his report to the council.